I'll first say that, although I seem to be talking about myself in this post, my motivation in writing it is not to get attention. In fact, due to the things I'm admitting, it's likely the opposite effect will occur for me in general. The issue was simply easier to explain by relating my own experience. I do not at all intend this to be about me specifically.

Lately it has come to my very conscious attention that most of my motivation for posting in the Rant, Rave, Cry & Complain thread is to evoke pity and even respect in others. I considered myself to exhibit this attention-seeking behavior in a couple other places. So, I have been trying to cease the behavior. I've stopped posting in the RRC&C thread, among other things.

But, I find myself confused about what attention-seeking is and what it isn't. Is everybody who posts an issue in the mentioned thread not seeking attention in some way? Is self-consciousness not simply a natural trait that every human, as a social species, possesses? How far must I go? I've been working on a poem. Should I refrain from submitting it in Artist's Corner? Should I stop posting on DV completely?

The more I think about this, the more it seems my recent concerns that I seek attention more than others are invalid, and are only due to my inclination toward obsessing over thoughts and being paranoid as a result. Perhaps this is something everyone does, but is not aware of. It is, for the most part, not done very consciously, so I would not be surprised.

On a personal side-note, I've begun to suspect that, if I do seek attention more than others it is because I feel I must be given validation of my worth. It likely stems from the fact that my mother put me on a pedestal when I was younger, praising me for specific qualities, many of which I lost.

Is every social interaction not attention-seeking in some way? I'd like to know what everyone's primary motivation for venting about personal issues is. I am trying to figure out what precisely our motivations should be for interacting with others.